Back to the original file format

Can I start with a , "Why?"

I'll echo Bart ... "Why?"

Best plan would be us MinimServer or another UPnP server which converts to WAV on the fly.

FLAC has best support for metadata and causes less problems (IMO).

I was hoping you weren't going to ask that Bart lol!...Well, without confusing matters. I am using Asset server on my iMac, and I also have Asset on a Qnap NAS, together with Twonky. Just lately, Asset server on my iMac and NAS have been playing up. There is a 15-20 second gap when selecting an album, and also in between tracks, on most FLAC files. My AAC files downloaded from iTunes, play flawlessly. Using Twonky on my NAS is not a problem, all files play perfectly.

I just thought that Asset was struggling with the FLAC files, perhaps because of the settings which thy were converted to.  

You may find that you have metadata issues because you ripped the CDs using a Unitiserve, which uses a tagging system that generally doesn't work with non-Naim devices. The solution to this is to convert to FLAC on the Unitiserve before you part with it. I'm not sure from your post what issues you have, but if you can't see basic metadata correctly, there may be a solution if you can find a friendly Naim dealer who could lend you a Unitiseve to do the conversions.

Davina I would start with something more basic, and go thru your setup and see if something is amiss.  Asset server plays flac files fine.  I would tend to doubt that XLD or dbPoweramp could create a flac file that per se is a problem.  

How about starting with a fresh re-install of Asset on the nas, given that Twonky there works well.

ChrisSU posted:

You may find that you have metadata issues because you ripped the CDs using a Unitiserve, which uses a tagging system that generally doesn't work with non-Naim devices. The solution to this is to convert to FLAC on the Unitiserve before you part with it. I'm not sure from your post what issues you have, but if you can't see basic metadata correctly, there may be a solution if you can find a friendly Naim dealer who could lend you a Unitiseve to do the conversions.

I would doubt that the lengthy gap upon selecting albums is meta-data related, but it COULD be I suppose.  And the Naim rip of wav files is perfectly standard wav; Naim rippers put the metadata in a separate file, but that will be totally ignored when you use xld or dbpoweramp to convert them to flac.  The only issue will be that there is NO (I think this is right..been too long since I tried) metadata in the wav files; the user has to add it herself. 

Davina, you could look at the metadata in the files and edit it with Metadatics (install it on your Mac) just to see if something looks odd.   How did you get Artist and Album info into your flac files when you converted them?

Thanks Bart, I'll try a re-install. However, I have the premium version of Asset on my iMac, and it does the same thing.  (15-20 gap between tracks) I have emailed Spoon at dbpoweramp but not heard back yet.

CHRISSU: Thank you...Yes, I'm aware of the metadata issues with Unitiserve, but I wondered if I had the settings correct when I converted with the XLD and dbpoweramp. iTunes AAC files play flawlessly.

ELOISE: I did try Minim a while ago, as I know that most members rave about it. However, as hard as I tried I just couldn't set it up, I found it too difficult. The premium version of Asset which I have on my iMac does actually convert on the fly. I agree with you FLAC is best for metadata, but I simply thought the FLAC files were causing this sudden 15-20 second gap in between music tracks, as my AAC files from iTunes play flawlessly.

Try this -- use XLD to convert one of the problemmatic flac albums to wav.  XLD doesn't have multiple wav options -- in Preferences, just pick WAV as the "output format" and see what happens!

Davina, when you converted to FLAC using XLD or whatever, did you have to add basic metadata manually? 

Just use xld again as said above. 

Mart output to wav. Set destination folder. 

Set other metadata options to embed metadata into files. Artwork too. 

File, open, select an existing flac album folder containing the tracks. Viola!

should now have new folder containing tracks bit in wav format  

check these in something like metadatics to see if metadata was maintained, etc.

 Try a few more tests  if you are then confident all is working then repeat for remaining album folders  you may also be able to start from higher parent folder and let the computer do the rest  

key thing is to test 1st and make sure you are happy with the output  

good luck

Thanks everyone for your kind advice.

What I have found, is that AAC files downloaded from iTunes play flawlessly. Today I ripped a CD with iTunes in AIFF format. I then saved it to my 'Music share' on the Qnap NAS. When I attempted to play it back, I got the message "unrecognised file". 

I have some 24/96 hi-res files, that were copied from The Beatles USB stick, (which was available for purchase a couple of years ago) these were added to the 'Music share' on the NAS. These files play flawlessly.

I really am at a loss with all this...

Files are really easy to interconvert using any number of apps. As long as you haven't compressed them. I use dBpoweramp. Native WAVs have always sounded better to me. 

Re my first post...After almost a week of testing various servers this is what I am left with...

Asset and Minim servers were used on my iMac, (connected by Ethernet to switch, then router) but there is a 15-20 second wait "Loading", to find the album. Then there is a 15-20 second gap, "loading" in between tracks. The tests have been done using various file formats. (FLAC, WAV, AIFF) However, AAC files downloaded from iTunes played perfectly without gaps, no problems.

I then used my Qnap NAS, (connected by Ethernet to switch, then router) Asset, Minim and Twonky servers were enabled.

Asset and minim did exactly the same as above, (15-20 seconds loading) but only TWONKY played flawlessly. It found the music instantly, and played without longs gaps in between tracks.

I have now exhausted this. I've even simplified the folders, putting all my music in one folder (Multimedia). Previously I had folders for 16 bit, 24 bit and iTunes Downloads.

Why is Twonky behaving, (my least preferred server) but Asset and minim will not?!

Any ideas guys

Thanks

Davina

Is Asset loaded on the nas itself?

The files which aren't playing properly - how large is the artwork stored in them?  I've found if you have too big images then you can end up with gaps.

I've been using uncompressed FLAC for some time with great success - when transcoded to WAV at the server, it's pretty good, and you never need to worry about orphaned metadata / artwork.

Hungryhalibut posted:

Is Asset loaded on the nas itself?

Yes it is.

Ah, it was just a thought. The whole thing is very odd indeed: I have Asset on a Qnap and it just works, transcoding FLAC to WAV, and even on 192k albums it's lightning quick. 

DavidDever posted:

I've been using uncompressed FLAC for some time with great success - when transcoded to WAV at the server, it's pretty good, and you never need to worry about orphaned metadata / artwork.

I agree. I'm not sure if it breaks forum rules, but I am using a non Naim streamer with my Supernait and HiCap-DR. 

Eloise posted:

The files which aren't playing properly - how large is the artwork stored in them?  I've found if you have too big images then you can end up with gaps.

I'm not sure. When the files were transcoded using XLD and dbpoweramp, this was done automatically. I was aware that artwork could cause the kind I'm experiencing. As I said before, Twonky plays perfectly.

Sorry...My last post should read, "I wasn't aware that artwork size could cause the problems I'm experiencing".

A proper metadata editor can show you the embedded artwork and how big it is.  It's hard for an embedded jpg to get a lot bigger than 1 MB, and I'd be surprised if the extra data was a tipping point.  As we are all speculating, I am happy to speculate that your issue is not related merely to the size of any album art embedded in the files, unless something REALLY crazy is going on.